2017 Cubs Spring Training Uniform Numbers

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 01/27/2017 - 6:21pm

CUBS SPRING TRAINING UNIFORM NUMBERS

NOTE 1: These are preliminary and are subject to change
NOTE 2: Minor league coaches and instructors usually are assigned numbers 67, 88-94, and 96-99 (TBA)
NOTE 3: Numbers 3, 24, 53, 54, and 69 are not assigned at this time (Cubs do not issue #69)

1 Gary Jones, COACH
2 Tommy LaStella, INF
3 ---------------
4 Dave Martinez, COACH
5 Albert Almora Jr, OF
6 Carl Edwards Jr, P
7 Jeimer Candelario, INF
8 Jemile Weeks, INF
9 Javy Baez, INF
10 RETIRED
11 John Mallee, COACH
12 Kyle Schwarber, C-OF
13 Carlos Corporan, C
14 RETIRED
15 Chris Dominguez, INF
16 Brandon Hyde, COACH
17 Kris Bryant, INF
18 Ben Zobrist, IF-OF
19 Koji Uehara, P
20 Matt Szczur, OF
21 Dylan Floro, P
22 Jason Heyward, OF
23 RETIRED
24 ---------------
25 Chris Bosio, COACH
26 RETIRED
27 Addison Russell, INF
28 Kyle Hendricks, P
29 Rob Zastryzny, P
30 Jon Jay, OF
31 RETIRED
32 Brian Duensing, P
33 Fernando Rodriguez, P
34 Jon Lester, P
35 Lester Strode, COACH
36 Aaron Brooks, P
37 Brett Anderson, P
38 Mike Montgomery, P
39 Manny Parra, P
40 Willson Contreras, C
41 John Lackey, P
42 RETIRED
43 Jake Buchanan, P
44 Anthony Rizzo, 1B
45 Casey Kelly, P
46 Pedro Strop, P
47 Miguel Montero, C
48 Jim Henderson, P
49 Jake Arrieta, P
50 Gerardo Concepcion, P
51 Jack Leathersich, P
52 Justin Grimm, P
53 ---------------
54 ---------------
55 Daniel Corcino, P
56 Hector Rondon, P
57 David Rollins, P
58 Mike Borzello, COACH
59 Zac Rosscup, P
60 Felix Pena, P
61 Conor Mullee, P
62 Caleb Smith, P
63 Maikel Cleto, P
64 Henry Blanco, COACH
65 Franklin Font, COACH
66 Munenori Kawasaki, INF
67 --------------- (worn by Minor League Outfield & Baserunning Coordinator Doug Dascenzo in 2016)
68 Eloy Jimenez, OF
69 ---------------
70 Joe Maddon, MGR
71 Wade Davis, P
72 John Andreoli, OF
73 Victor Caratini, C-1B
74 Duane Underwood Jr, P
75 Jacob Hannemann, OF
76 Jose Rosario, P
77 Eric Hinske, COACH
78 Mark Zagunis, OF
79 Andury Acevedo, P
80 Pierce Johnson, P
81 James Farris, P
82 Taylor Davis, C-1B
83 Seth Frankoff, P
84 Jhondaniel Medina, P
85 Chesny Young, INF
86 Ian Happ, IF-OF
87 Ryan Williams, P
88 ---------------
69 --------------- (worn by Tennessee manager Mark Johnson in 2016)
90 --------------- (worn by Iowa pitching coach Rod Nichols in 2016)
91 --------------- (worn by Iowa manager Marty Pevey in 2016)
92 ---------------
93 ---------------
94 --------------- (worn by Minor League Hitting Coordinator Andy Haines in 2016)
95 Chad Noble, BULLPEN CATCHER
96 --------------- (worn by Minor League Pitching Coordinator Jim Brower in 2016)
97 --------------- (worn by Minor League Field Coordinator Tim Cossens in 2016)
98 --------------- (worn by Tennessee pitching coach Terry Clark in 2016)
99 ---------------

Tags: 
Cubs uniform numbers
Cubs Spring Training Recap

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Fri, 01/27/2017 - 11:30pm  

Wade Davis usually wears #17, but Kris Bryant already has that number locked-up, so Davis took #71 (#17 reversed).

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 12:03am  
I find it interesting that Eloy Jimenez was assigned Jorge Soler's old number (#68).

Submitted by VirginiaPhil  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 9:48am  
It's just a spring-training number, right? I have assumed that Soler neglected to ask for a regular outfielder's number when he moved up. If you like the big number, that's fine, but people (like me) are going to assume you just didn't bother.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 11:20am  

VA PHIL: I only mentioned it because Eloy Jimenez somewhat resembles Jorge Soler physically, and I thought it was interesting that Jimenez (in particular) got Soler's old number 68 when most of the in-house NRI and even some of the guys on the 40-man roster (Andreoli, Caratini, Hannemann, Rosario, Underwood, Zagunis, Acevedo, P. Johnson, T. Davis, Young, Happ, R. Williams, et al) were issued generic "Spring Training numbers" in the 70's and 80's.

As for why Soler wore #68, it probably was just a matter of keeping the number he was first issued in Spring Training, but it did become associated with him while he was a Cub (there were jerseys sold with his name & number on them), and because of that, Cubs #68 is probably no longer just another generic "Spring Training number." It's Jorge Soler's old number. 

Submitted by VirginiaPhil  on Tue, 01/31/2017 - 12:20pm  
It just always seemed like the "wrong number" to me. Give it to Crane Kenney. By the way, the "you" in my previous comment ("if you like the big number", etc.) was not you, it was Soler.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 01/31/2017 - 1:59pm  
Back when AZ Phil first became a Cub fan circa 1960-61, the Cubs uniform numbering system was very simple... catchers wore single-digit numbers, infielders were numbered in the teens, outfielders in the 20's, pitchers in the 30's and 40's, and the Kollege of Koaches wore numbers in the 50's and 60's. No numbers were retired. That's the way it was, and we liked it! Now, get off my lawn!!!! link

Submitted by K Dub  on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 2:33am  
Is the reason the Cubs don't assign/use #69 because of the collapse of 1969 or because of, well, sexual reasons...?

Submitted by John Beasley  on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 10:14am  
Cleveland was awarded the 2019 All Star Game yesterday. They will follow Miami this year and Washington in 2018. 2020 will be the 30th anniversary of the last time the Cubs hosted the game. In the meantime, only three teams have not hosted the event. In addition to the Dodgers, that includes Oakland and Tampa Bay - the league's two current examples of bad ballpark situations. Pittsburgh and San Diego have hosted twice in that period, which is why the math doesn't add up. However, a caveat: none of the Yankees, Philadephia, or now Atlanta have hosted it in their new park. Combined with the ongoing renovations at Wrigley, I have to think the Cubs will be one of the next 5 teams announced to host, and possible within the next 1-2.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 11:13am  
I have updated the TCR Cubs Organizational Depth Chart to reflect Spring Training assignments, including projected assignments at Minor League Camp.

Just as a Point of Information, Kevin Cornelius MUST be assigned to the Iowa squad, because a player selected in the AAA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft MUST be assigned to the AAA affiliate's squad at Minor League Camp for at least 15 days, but then the player can be assigned to any affiliate once the season starts.

Submitted by Wrigley Rat  on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 9:47pm  
Two more minor league signings to report: - Todd Glaesmann (OF) - Frank Batista (RP)

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sun, 01/29/2017 - 10:41am  
W-RAT: link

Submitted by Wrigley Rat  on Sun, 01/29/2017 - 3:34pm  
Completely missed it - thanks Phil! Feel free to delete! :)

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sun, 01/29/2017 - 3:44pm  
W-RAT: No Problem at all. Your input is appreciated. I just wanted to let you know that it had already been posted here in case you wanted to read it.

Submitted by Wrigley Rat  on Sun, 01/29/2017 - 5:19pm  
Thanks Phil! I really enjoyed reading it - I always appreciate the time you put into giving us the whole story about each player (things I would normally have to research to find). That's why you're the best!!!

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester  on Sun, 01/29/2017 - 10:51am  
No one assigned Ross or Dexter's number I get. I don't quite get no one with Chapman's number, and certainly not Cahill's!

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sun, 01/29/2017 - 11:07am  
DJL: David Ross's number might be left open for a while in case he decides to un-retire sometime during the season (and if Lester is struggling, he might!). The other open numbers (24, 53, and 54) are just chance. Normally the Cubs don't reissue the numbers of their free-agents until they actually sign elsewhere or until it's absolutely sure they are not coming back. That's why I was surprised that Brett Anderson got #37 (Travis Wood's old number), especially since Anderson has never worn #37 in MLB before (he wore #35 with the Dodgers and #49 wth the A's), and Wood has still not signed elsewhere. So it is possible that if Wood comes back, Anderson could maybe switch to #53 (#35 reversed), or Bullpen Coach Lester Strode could give-up #35 so Anderson can have it and switch to a different uniform number. But again, the uniform number assignments are preliminary and are subject to change, both at the start of Spring Training, and then again on Opening Day.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 10:00am  
I don't think the Cubs have any interest in re-signing Travis Wood, especially given Maddon's tendency to use him in games.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 11:37am  
VA PHIL: I can see why Travis Wood wouldn't want to return to the Cubs if he can get a SP gig someplace else, but why wouldn't Joe Maddon want Travis Wood back? A LHP who can start or relieve, PH, PR, and even play LF, sounds like the ideal Maddon utility pitcher to me.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 1:05pm  

@Buster_ESPN 2m2 minutes ago MLB strips Cards of their first two picks in '17 draft (56, 75 overall) and fines them $2 million; money and picks forwarded to Astros.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 1:30pm  

seems a little on the weak end, nice for Astros 2017 draft. Cards only with a little over $2M in draft money this year, but it's a 2nd round and supplemental 2nd round pick and the $2M is chump change.

Submitted by tim815  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 2:17pm  
It's helpful being chummy with the adjudicator when you get caught in corporate espionage, apparently.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 2:43pm  

fun fact: MLB statement says no else on Cardinals knew. Testimony from Correa says he told other Cardinals colleagues.

#altfacts

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/8261495...

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 4:48pm  
link

Submitted by billybucks  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 8:22pm  
The team penalties seem about right (although it should probably have been their first pick this year and next year instead of 1 and 2 this year) and Correa got 4 years in jail and a $280K fine, so I'm OK with that. But, as always with stuff like this, the big question is : WHY? What the hell? Were the Astros a huge threat to the Cardinals in 2012? Don't the Cardinals have their own system for evaluating talent, which has been (too) successful?

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Mon, 01/30/2017 - 9:43pm  

The $2M fine payable to the Astros is almost exactly the combined Signing Bonus Pool (SBP) slot values for the two 2017 draft picks (#56 and #75) forfeited to the Astros by the Cardinals, so the Astros should be able to sign both draft picks essentially for free (that is, with Cardinal money) while increasing their own 2017 Rule 4 Draft SBP (the money they will be allowed to spend without penalty) for all of their other selections in the first ten rounds by $1,853,200 (the combined slot values of the two Cardinal draft picks). And that would allow the Astros to pay significant "overslot" bonuses (if they so choose) to some of their 2017 draft picks (including the two draft picks they get from the Cardinals) that they might not otherwise have been able to sign for "slot money."

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Tue, 01/31/2017 - 7:22am  
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has placed Chris Correa on the MLB Ineligible List (lifetime ban), making him ineligible to be hired by any MLB organization. This also makes Correa ineligible for selection to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but he is still eligible for selection to the Hackers Hall of Fame.

Submitted by JoePepitone  on Tue, 01/31/2017 - 12:09pm  
Him and Pete Rose -- brothers in the land of the banned.

Submitted by Ryno  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 11:46am  
The money & draft picks seems right. The 4 years in jail is excessive, but I don't know the situation other than the Astros didn't change the password on their Excel or something. I don't think the Astros had a deep, rich well of knowledge, I think it was an opportunistic thing.

Submitted by CTSteve  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 6:20am  
So I guess not signing and trying to trade Hammel was not such a bad strategy after all.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 11:34am  
Cubs acquire Eddie Butler & international bonus slot #74 from Rockies for James Farris & international bonus slot #28. Dylan Floro DFA'd

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 11:51am  

we have this on Farris in case anyone is a fan: @sahadevsharma Re: Farris, he has a fringy slider and Cubs were considering bringing back his curve from amateur days. Looks like purely a reliever.

Butler was once upon a time a pretty big pitching prospect, (#24 in baseball before 2014). But he's had shoulder issues almost since he was first called up in 2014 and got DFA'd last week when they signed Holland. His numbers are pretty ugly looking the last 3 years. Maybe getting away from Coors/Denver will help.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 11:54am  
What went wrong with Eddie Butler? http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2017/1/30/14...

Submitted by Ryno  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 1:08pm  
Farris is a reliever? So it's safe to say he will require many days off?

Submitted by johann  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 6:29pm  
He believes some pretty silly things if some quotes I've read from him are true. I heard he believes if he pitches backwards it'll take mileage off his arm.

Submitted by Ryno  on Thu, 02/02/2017 - 9:04am  
Cues up "Oh Yeah"...

Submitted by John Beasley  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 5:25pm  
Just watched the MLB.tv condensed version of Butler's best start last year, a 6-inning, 0-run, 6/2 K/BB performance in May at San Francisco. He did not even look very good in his best start, with the exception of part of the second, when he struck out two after loading the bases, and the fifth, in which he struck out the side. The ballpark saved him two home runs, there are a ton of hard-hit balls, some web gems, a TOOTBLAN, and overall it was a very lucky performance. I know I shouldn't read too much into one performance, but it was literally the best start of his major league career. I know he's probably a reliever with the Cubs. With his repertoire, he still has a shot.

Submitted by tim815  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 8:41pm  
Initially, he should be a starter in Iowa. After that, it's all if he figures it out. If so or if not, it was a fairly logical gamble on a ninth-round pick in Farris. BTW, kudos to AZ Phil for nailing Farris as the guy who would likely be traded in this sort of trade.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 10:27pm  
TIM: Unless one of the Cubs MLB starting pitchers begins the season on the DL, the Opening Day starting rotation at Iowa will likely be Butler-Zastryzny-Buchanan-Brooks-Kelly (I suspect Ryan Williams will start the season at Extended Spring Training while he builds-up innings & his pitch count), with Butler, Zastryzny, Buchanan, and Brooks already on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster AND with minor league options available (and if Kelly is added to the 40 at some point, he has a minor league option left, too). This matters because ideally you would want all five starters at AAA capable of starting games in the big leagues, so whichever one of them is due to start for Iowa on the day you suddenly need a AAA starter to get called up, the one scheduled to pitch that day gets the call. Of course Maddon/Bosio could always go with a "bullpen day," but that usually requires relief pitchers who are more than "one-inning" pitchers. They had guys like that last year (with Richards, Cahill, and Wood in the pen coming out of Spring Training), but it looks like only Montgomery will be able to pitch multiple innings of the eight pitchers likely to start the season in the pen (W. Davis-Rondon-Uehara-Montgomery-Strop-Duensing-Edwards-Grimm). That's why one of the two relievers with options remaining who can't refuse an optional assignment (Edwards or Grimm) could get optioned to Iowa at the end of Spring Training, either to allow Rule 5 draft pick Caleb Smith to make the 25-man roster (and he could be stretched-out to pitch multiple innings in Spring Training), or for one of the presumed five starters at Iowa (Butler-Zastryzny-Buchanan-Brooks-Kelly) to make the Opening Day roster as the "long-man" in the pen (this slot could have pitchers rotate up from Iowa every couple of weeks). BTW, there could be some major carnage at the end of Spring Training. Depending on how many pitchers begin the season on the DL in Chicago, Iowa, and Tennessee, as many as twenty pitchers could get released just from the Iowa and Tennessee squads alone by the end of Minor League Camp.

Submitted by tim815  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 10:44pm  
Battle royale in Mesa. I hope Kelly pushes that to happen.

Submitted by Childersb3  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 11:14pm  
Az Phil, Barring DL stints, the Opening night roster?: SP: Lester, Arrieta, Hendricks, Lackey, Anderson RP: Davis, Rondon, Strop, Montgomery, Uehara, Edwards, Grimm, Duensing IF: Contreras, Rizzo, Zobrist, Russell, Bryant OF: Schwarber, Almora, Heyward Bench: Montero, Baez, La Stella, Jay Szczur is out.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Wed, 02/01/2017 - 11:32pm  

CHILDERS: I would tend to agree with that.

Two possible changes (though less than 50% chance for both):

1. Caleb Smith > Edwards or Grimm (Smith is a Rule 5 draft pick and can't be sent to the minors until waivers are secured AND the Yankees decline to reclaim him, and both Edwards & Grimm have minor league options left and neither can refuse an Optional Assignment)

2. Jemile Weeks > LaStella (IF Weeks proves his hamstring is 100%)

And of course injuries change everything.

I agree that Szczur (who is out of minor league options) is a goner (by trade or lost off waivers) unless an outfielder starts the season on the DL, so the Cubs might not make final disposition with regard to Szczur until the very end of Spring Training. 

Submitted by billybucks  on Thu, 02/02/2017 - 9:17pm  
Damn. I just learned how to spell Szczur without looking. Well, I hope he leaves some of his bats behind for Rizz. Much easier to root for Szczur than LaStella, for reasons both obvious and not (he saved a child's life by being a bone marrow donor, which is no small thing). But, ironically, for a team swimming in infielders a while ago, they are a bit bench-thin there now.

Submitted by tim815  on Fri, 02/03/2017 - 8:07am  
To make things worse, he likely has next-to-no trade value.

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 02/03/2017 - 3:29pm  
i dunno if any team sees him as a guy who could handle CF reliably as an injury backup, but if so he's got something going on with his value. at the very least he could handle all 3 OF part time off the bench. that said, i doubt he'd bring someone that would make us say 'wow.'

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Fri, 02/03/2017 - 5:48pm  

Something tells me Matt Szczur will end up with the Phillies.

link

Submitted by tim815  on Fri, 02/03/2017 - 8:54pm  
My hunch is that about 26 teams want to claim him on waivers.

Submitted by Childersb3  on Thu, 02/02/2017 - 12:02am  
Az Phil, Do you see Theo getting Boone Logan? I don't want any of the other Free Agent LHRP. Is Logan better than Duensing?

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Thu, 02/02/2017 - 9:19am  
CHILDERS: Boone Logan would be an upgrade over Brian Duensing, but I doubt that the Cubs would strongly pursue Logan at this time. However, if Logan falls into their laps (like Dexter Fowler did last year), I would think the Cubs would try and find a way to sign him, because it would make the pen better. As a post-2016 Article XX-B FA, Duensing has automatic "no trade" rights through June 15th, and he can't be sent to the minors without his permission, either, so if they sign Logan, the Cubs would probably end up releasing Duensing at the end of Spring Training (presuming there isn't room for both Logan and Duensing in the pen on Opening Day). And if the Cubs do release Duensing and he ends up signing with another MLB club, the new club would only have to pay Duensing the MLB minimum salary ($535K in 2017), and the Cubs would be on the hook for the balance ($1.465M). But that's actually not that much if it means the Cubs can get Logan. Also, the Cubs may be maxed-out payroll-wise for 2017, but about $90M in payroll comes off the books in 2018, and if he is amenable, the Cubs could perhaps sign Logan to a two-year back-loaded deal with maybe a player opt-out with 2018 severance (like Fowler got last year).

Submitted by Childersb3  on Thu, 02/02/2017 - 1:07pm  
Thanks Az Phil. I doubt Logan would fall to us, unless he wanted to win like Dexter did. And, if that happened, 1.465 mil to make Duensing play for someone else is a drop in the bucket with the 2018 potential savings. This won't happen, because Theo will want him to develop more or put up good numbers for trade bait, but could Jeimer out hit TLS in Spr Training? I know ole 3am can still swing it some, but I'm ready to move on from him.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 02/02/2017 - 4:00pm  
b.logan to the indians, fwiw.

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester  on Thu, 02/02/2017 - 5:02pm  
Wouldn't mind seeing Blevins fall to us, especially on a contract similar to Logan. It's insane Logan got less than Mike Dunn or even Rzepczynski. Also wouldn't mind taking a chance on the injured Eovaldi for 2018, maybe even H. Alvarez. Bullpen wise, wouldn't hate to see us grab Aaron Barrett or Maness.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil  on Fri, 02/03/2017 - 9:08am  
Blevins and Henderson are old Cub farmhands. Maybe they should save a couple of spots for Alburquerque and Zych.

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester  on Sat, 02/04/2017 - 9:33am  
Guess the Blevins road is no longer available. Kinda feel like the Cubs should have waited out the market and gotten either him, Logan, or Howell instead of Duensing.

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  • crunch 14 hours 17 min ago (view)

    j.odorizzi accepted his qualifying offer (17.8m) from MIN...so did j.abreu (CWS)....everyone else is gonna play the FA market.

    w.smith (SF) immediately signed with the braves for 3/39 (13m team option/1m buyout on the backend).  braves lose a 2nd round pick...which they'll probably get back when someone signs j.donaldson.

     
  • crunch 1 day 14 hours ago (view)

    nice.

    it's not like i think he's something special, but if he had 5mph more on his stuff he'd probably be a top prospect in the system combined with his command/control.  he's got highly repeatable junk and he's still young enough there might be a little more velocity to discover.

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 17 hours ago (view)

    CRUNCH: As long as Carrera is placed on the AAA Iowa reserve list on 11/20 he should be safe from selection, and I would say he is in fact close to a lock to be placed on the Iowa roster.

    Presuming he is on the Iowa reserve list going into the Rule 5 Draft, I doubt very much that he would get selected in the Major League Phase because he hasn't pitched above Lo-A. 

     
  • crunch 1 day 17 hours ago (view)

    nice info...

    i'm low-key keeping an eye on faustino carrera if he's not protected...which he may not be protected.

    he throws junk, but he throws it well, and with great control.

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 17 hours ago (view)

    I've talked to Player Development people over the past many years about the Rule 5 Draft and how an organization goes about deciding whether to protect or not protect a player from selection. 

    STEP 1: How many of your Rule 5 Draft-eligible players are actually legit candidates to get selected in the Major League Phase?. Usually there a dozen or more who could conceivably/realisticaly get selected. You need to identify them and then carefully evaluate them. 
    EXAMPLES: See my lists above. 

     
  • crunch 1 day 20 hours ago (view)

    "There are no untouchables," Epstein said.

    In truth, the Cubs boss has said the same every year, but it certainly sounds like he means it this time. "We're in the 'information collecting' stages of the process," one general manager put it on Tuesday.

    https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28066390/there...

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 2 days 22 hours ago (view)

    I think, in relation to the higher profile guys like Javy or Contreras, they're trying to put some pressure on to sign extensions.

    That said I do think they're listening on everyone with the only name I haven't seen being Rizzo.

     
  • crunch 3 days 15 hours ago (view)

    i wonder where the cubs will go with things.

    there's a lot pointing to the cubs being expected to listen to offers on almost anyone.  as it is, on paper, the cubs could roll right into 2020 with no changes whatsoever and still field a very competitive team.  the whole "shakeup" thing seems to be a very hot topic from a variety of sources, though.

    bryant, contreras, schwarber have all been linked to "cubs may be listening" rumors...probably listening to anything on happ, bote, almora, russell, too...

     
  • Hagsag 3 days 15 hours ago (view)

    Even the Cubs should be able to out bid the Marlins!

     
  • crunch 3 days 15 hours ago (view)

    "According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the Marlins are "believed" to have interest in free agent outfielder Nicholas Castellanos."

    by interest, i assume they mean they'd like to have some baseball rookie cards or his or maybe a hug from him.  i can't imagine they actually want to spend money on someone they could use to make their team better because that makes no sense.

     
  • Arizona Phil 4 days 8 hours ago (view)

    Prior to joining the Cubs in 2012 Scott Harris was Director of Baseball Operations in the MLB office, which means he received, reviewed, and approved all major league and minor league contracts and transactions, as well as providing MLB clubs with schedules, rules updates, and draft information. 

     
  • Cubster 4 days 16 hours ago (view)

    Giants hire Scott Harris, from Cubs front office,  as GM

     
  • Charlie 5 days 18 hours ago (view)

    For anyone else who immediately wonders but is not invested enough to look it up, this is not Chris (Ryan) Young, former Padres starter and fisticuffs partner of Derrek Lee, but rather the two-years younger Chris Matthew Young.

     
  • crunch 6 days 5 hours ago (view)

    rev up those off-season rumor fryers...

    Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
    Multiple teams in search of catching help believe Cubs catcher Willson Contreras will be available this winter. The Cubs will get creative this winter, and with a deep catching free agent market, they could trade Contreras and begin retooling under new manager David Ross.

     
  • crunch 6 days 10 hours ago (view)

    former padres manager andy green is gonna be ross's bench coach.

    green was c.rea's manager in SD, btw.

     
  • Arizona Phil 6 days 16 hours ago (view)

    Last year the Cubs signed four free-agents to minor league contracts prior to the Rule 5 Draft: LHP Alberto Baldonado, OF Wynton Bernard, RHP Corey Black, and RHP Jose Rosario. All four were members of the Cubs organization in 2018 but declined to sign a 2019 minor league successor contract prior to being declared a free-agent, but then came back to the Cubs after briefly testing the free-agent waters. 

     
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